Ship&#39;s rat guard



G. HANSEN -Spt. 11,1928. 1,683,615

sHIPs RAT GUARD Filed May 13, 1927 daszaz Hansen fizz 622502" which arenow in vogue.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928 PATENT: oFF cE.

GUSTAV HANSEN, OF VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

SHIP S RAT GUARD.

Application filed May 13, 1927, Serial No. 191,065, and in CanadaDecember 16, 1926.

This invention relates to ships rat guards, such as are necessary tontercept the passage of rats to and from ships by way of the ca les orropes by which they are mooredto the shore. V

The object of the invention is to provide a rat guard which is moreefficient because much more easily positioned and handled than otherdevices for the same purpose The latter being usually clumsy as well ashazardous to secure in position. and therefore time wasting.

when employed;

The device which I have invented consists of a plate more or lessrectangular but preferably wedge-shaped, on the center line of andthrough which is secured right-angle larly thereto a saddleanember whichstraddles the rope or cable. The saddle member is formed of angle ironand depends materially below the rope on which the device suspended, sothat the center of gravity 1s below it and therefore retains the lighterand wider portion of the device in a vertical position above the rope orcable where it is most needed to debar the passage of the rat.

The dependent portions of the angle irons above named are spaced apartabout the width of the cable and the plate cut away betweenthem' thusleaving a groove for the cable as the device is slipped over it for use.

To preclude the possibility ofthe device slipping off the cable, Iemploy a'plvotal and adjustable slide which can be swung back out of theway for the admission of the cable and afterwards brought back into thevertical position blocking the entrance to the slot and locking thecable or rope in within the saddle member where it can be instantlylocked by the turning'of a cam or other device.

The details of the invention can be better understood by reference tothe drawings herewith andforming part of this applica tion, in which rFig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation,

Fig. 3 is a front view withthe locking plate swung out to permit theadmissionof the rope, and l Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are side andfront'elevations respectively of the locking 'attachment. p

Taking the drawings in detail and noting that similar numerals in thedifferent views represent or indicate identical parts, 6 indicates theguard plate which as shown is of 15 so that it can be swung out of theway as shown in Fig. 3 when the guard is being slipped over the cable orropeas shown in the drawing consists of an eccentric 17 rigidly securedto the bent lever 16 which fulcrums in the upturned plate 18 the latterbeing integral with the locking plate 13. So that as the lever 16 isturned over through an obtuse angle towards the guard plate 6 the cam isbrought into firm contact with the face of the angle iron 11 thuslocking the plate 13 against it in any desired vertical positionpermitted by the slot 15.

From the above description it will be observed that my device canreadily be slipped upon a cable at the ships side and there secured,thencelowered into correct position I by a lanyard, and there remain solong as required, whereas 1n the case of the ordinary cumbersome ratguards these have to be secured upon the cable by lashing thereto at ithe position required, which is often a troublesome and hazardous job.

It is to be further noted that where two cables are close together the:old form of guard cannot efticiently be employed, Where as mine offersno detriment.

Having now declared the nature of my said invention, what I claim anddesire to be secured by'Letters Patent of the United States, is: i

A ships rat guard comprising, a flat plate 1 its periphery to arelatively midway posiof wedge shape having a slot extending from iright angularly turned edge, the inner surface of the said U-shapedplates being 00- incident with the edges of the said slot and thesurface adjacent the right angularly turned edge of each plate beingadjacent and secured to the face of the said wedge shaped plate on eachside thereof and so adapted to 2 Q i: a a 1,683,615

posite to a similar recess in the end of the said slot, said lockinplate having a slot engaging and adjusta le on the pivot above 10referred to, and locking means whereby the said plate may be securedfrom movement.

GUSTAV HANSEN.

